Charlie is 3 years old Cavalier, he has been a perfectly healthy, excitable happy boy ...up until the last 2 weeks.

About 2 weeks ago Charlie started limping on his front right leg, he seems to do this more when he gets out of his bed after a sleep. We took him to the vets who gave him a thorough examination, the vet could not find any injury but gave Charlie ibrufen just in case he had sprained his leg. After finishing the ibrufen Charlie still had the limp and it was slightly worse we took him back the vets last night, again he said there is no sogn of injury and he has sent us to see a specialist for x-rays but he thinks it could be Neurological as he thinks Charlie is forgetting to walk...I am so scared, could this be a sign of Syringomyelia?

Charlie does spend a lot of time scratching his ear to the point of getting them matted, his ears gave been checked and there is no sign of infection....is this just a Cavalier thing or is it another sign.

Please can anyone help me or give me advice I am breaking my heart over this :'(

Vicky x x

8th May 2013, 02:58 PM

Soushiruiuma

It's possibly neurologic, especially considering how much he scratches that ear.

Does he scratch more at one ear, or is it more on one side?

I would make an appointment with a veterinary neurologist, just to be sure. There's a whole battery of tests they can do in a matter of minutes (that your regular vet would not have done). They can let you know if it might be SM, or something else.

8th May 2013, 05:40 PM

meljoy

Hi Vicky,

We had an issue with Leo limping a few years ago, I thought the same as you its the dreaded SM. Long story short we had an MRI which showed NO Sm but Leo does have CM. That in its self can cause problems.

There are other things to investigate, PSOM (inner ear problem), problems with his patella....I would get him checked out thoroughly.
Someone else on the board will be able to give more advice.....I know its hard but try not to panic (easier said than done I know)

Good luck
Mel

9th May 2013, 01:58 PM

vicky76

Hi

Thanks for the reply.....he is going to see a specialist tonight too see what they think. With regards to his ear scratching he does it to both ears but has done since he was 8 weeks old....

I will let you know how Charlie gets on x x

9th May 2013, 05:00 PM

Tania

I would ask your vet for a referral to a neurologist, unfortunately a very high percentage of Cavaliers suffer from either cm/sm and psom. To obtain a definate diagnosis for any of these an mri would have to be carried out. It sounds as though Charlie might be suffering possible cm/sm pain !
My little Molly has sm, her symptoms were not typical, she didn't scratch at all but became lame. When Molly was diagnosed, she was only 18 months and I was told she would not make 2, Moolly is now 6 and lives a contented life.

I have explained a little about cm/sm below.

SM is not a death sentence and can normally be controlled by medication and they can lead more or less normal lives and live to a good age. The first thing to do is work with your vet and get the pain under control. The second thing to do is to ask your vet to refer you to a neurologist. The neurologist may be able to diagnose SM (or not) without the need for an mri scan, although a scan will provide clearer evidence and information. The cost of a full mri scan can range from £1,200 to £1,800, if you do not have insurance, some neurologists will provide a mini scan for approximately £250.00.

Another way of discovering the presence or otherwise SM is for the neurologist to prescribe a drug for neuropathic pain, such as Gabapentin. Gabapentin costs in the region of £25.00 for approximately one months supply. This is not an ordinary pain killer, it works only on nerve pain, so it makes a rapid difference.

Charlie went to see a consultant who specialises in Orthopedics and neuro problems.....After travelling for 40 mins to get there we were with the vet for 20 mins and he told us Charlie had damaged the ligaments in his shoulder....He did all the tests he could to rule out SM and he is very happy with Charlie and given him a clan bill of health :D
Charlie has to take Loxicom for the pain and no exercise or getting excited for 2 months (how do you keep a cavalier calm lol)
Thanks for all your advice